HARMON NOW SAYS, IN OPEN COURT, HE’S ‘GUILTY’
BENTON—Mark Harmon, enigma of Shawneetown/Harrisburg and surrounds, is once again in the news.
Mark Harmon
In a story that we had to jettison from the current print version (not enough pages, because there’s not enough room in the truck…we’re working on it!), Harmon, 29, bad boy from Gallatin Co. who came over and caused problems in Saline before moving on to terrorism in Williamson, has entered a plea in federal court in Benton.
Yesterday (Friday, Jan. 15), Harmon took a plea to his charge of Possession of a Firearm on Federal Property with the Intent to Commit a Crime. The charge came after an October 2009 incident during which Harmon told a VA nurse at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Marion that he was on his way to the hospital to “fill that place with lead,” this from a Glock he claimed he was carrying.
Officials outside the hospital were able to stop Harmon in his vehicle, search it, and they indeed found a loaded Glock .223 handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition—not enough to “fill” anything “with lead”, but certainly enough to kill people and create havoc.
He was taken into custody and charged federally. He’d been set for a jury trial next week (Jan. 20), but his plea Friday changed that. Now, he’ll be held until April 19, when he’ll be sentenced: he could be facing five years in prison and a wambo fine.
Harmon was the Shawneetown punk who held his parents hostage a few years back. On June 9, 2007, it was alleged that he committed Aggravated Assault, using a deadly weapon (a rifle), by pointing it at his mom and dad. He was also charged with Unlawful Use of Weapons against both his parents, and Disorderly Conduct, in that he threatened to kill them both.
He wasn’t charged until June 12, 2007. The state dismissed all those charges in exchange for a plea in a June 2007 case of Home Invasion, which was alleged against him in November 2006, when he entered Ashley Harmon’s residence.
However, Harmon’s real coup d’etat was when he allegedly entered the Saline County Detention Center some time last year (we’re working on exactly when) and, while wearing a military uniform, advised jail staff that he was there to pick up Jared Coonse and take him with him to a military brig.
Jared Coonse
Jail staff allegedly bought this story (after all, the man was in uniform) and went to get the punky Coonse, releasing him to Harmon’s care.
Of course, there was no such military connection with Coonse. We’re still working on Harmon’s actual military status.
Coonse had reportedly been jailed on charges of DUI, driving uninsured and possibly others, this while on a motorcycle. His previous record showed a couple of felonies, one, assault with a firearm.
Nobody said or did anything to Harmon allegedly taking Coonse from the jail without authority. Nor did Coonse suffer in any way. In fact, prosecutor Mike Henshaw recently gave little Coonse a pass on some serious charges that he’s sending others up the river for: he’d dropped the DUI, and a meth charge, to a misdemeanor with one year probation and a $1,000 fine, and let him leave to go to work at a ski resort in either Lake Tahoe or in Colorado, according to sources we spoke with last week.
Henshaw was going to transfer probation to Tahoe, it was reported to us, but “due to distance,” the probation was discontinued on 01.05.10…a little more than two months after it was imposed.
Lisa Coonse, from her Facebook
We’ve heard this might have something to do with Jared’s auntie, Lisa, left, who has been reported to us repeatedly as one of the many who party with Henshaw regularly.
It might also have something to do with Robert Wilson (no chicken pics, we’re working diligently on getting a real pic of ol Bob), who was acting as Jared’s attorney while he was under all these charges that are now bye-bye. And those who know, know that Wilson is Henshaw’s former law partner.
So the circle goes on and on. At least one of the punks tied up on all this Henshaw/Wilson/whoever shit is now hemmed up.
When it comes time to do a serious investigation on all the antics of these characters, maybe the investigators could go put a squeeze on little Mr. Harmon, too. See what pops out.
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Posted by Chris Beavers
on Jan 16 2010. Filed under Gallatin, Williamson.
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The incident where Mr. Harmon held his parents hostage was in 2007 or 2008.
Court documents say 06, but it may have been a typo. I’ll fix it in the text, I have the charges.
First, most of the imformation in this article pertaining to Jerred Coonse is false! You don’t even have his name spelled correctly, nor is Lisa his mother. The dates are way off as well. He didn’t move to a resort in Colorado either! I seriously think you should check your facts and sources before writing anymore about this. It is my understanding that printing false information that can damage ones reputation is slander and therefore illegal!Lastly, the article is suppose to be concentrated on Harmon, afterall he is the one who’s about to be sentenced!
We spelled it the way it was sent to us when his mug was. That can be fixed. Thanks for pointing it out, so that when we do an in-depth story on this punk in the print version, all his mouth-breathing/knuckle-dragging friends will know EXACTLY who we’re talking about.
And, as we said, the information about where he went out west was “reported” to us. We’re going to let it stand for now unless you can provide documentation otherwise. As far as “slander,” no; that’s what the knuckle-draggers commit when they SAY something false about your boy. “Libel” is a printed untruth. But ONLY if it can be proven that it was known at the time that it was false but was deliberately printed anyway, and that there was malice aforethought when it was done. There were neither one here. If we find out different, we’ll publish it so.
And then we’ll also do the complete story of what we heard was a shoot-up in Eldorado. So grab something, this might hurt.
Oh yeah…and “lastly,” this was about BOTH of them because of the jail break incident. And we can throw in a graph about polar bears if we want…it’s OUR fucking website, get it?
I am not familiar with the case but if the story is correct about someone coming into an Illinois Dept. of Corrections facility and taking an inmate out by some form of subtrifuge, that would be aiding in an escape which would surely be a felony.
Admin, you have mentioned a few times that Henshaw and Wilson are former partners. I have heard that they are still partners in a pharmaceutical business in Texas, along with another local douchebag, SIC girls basketball coach Rod Wallace. Might be worth looking into.
Hey, thanks, tickpicker. We’d heard that too. We hammer the “former law partners” thing because there are a LOT of cases that are stalled in court because the firm representing one of the litigants is Wilson/Henshaw, and Henshaw hasn’t bowed out of the case yet. He can’t hold the office and represent anyone (legally, anyway). He was Paul McSparin’s attorney in McSparin’s civil suit against Judy Pike, which has been languishing now taking up space for about two years…if THAT tells you anything.
Lake Tahoe is on the California/Nevada border.
Yeah that probably should have said “OR Colorado,” that post was put up speedily. We’ll correct.
Admin, do you have any idea what Henshaws gets paid as states attorney?
The last we knew, state’s attorneys make about $112K annually. The salary goes up just about every year, so we’re not certain about that.
However, Judge Lambert makes $165,934.21 (at least in 2008); Judge Walden Morris makes $157,637.65 as an associate. Of course, if Henshaw retired as judge, with the requisite amount of years in, he’s also collecting retirement pay on top of whatever he’s making as SA. And any other business venture he might be involved in. Guess you can never make too much money, huh?
Contrast this to poor old David Phelps who works for the Dept. of Transportation making only $125,011.30, but Brandon Phelps, as a state representative, only makes $76,731.96. Sad. Hobie Boyles was making $81,118.08 in 2008 as a Master Trooper (yes, insert jokes about “master”-something else here.) We’re not sure if he’s currently collecting his regular pay while driving a desk or not.
And…is Henshaw’s wife’s name Tina? if so, she makes $42,517.64 or so as a Human Resources Representative for the Department of Central Management Services.
I simply love stories of this type. (insert heavy sarcasm here).
If I had pulled any of that crap, I would be looking at a long, long vacation courtesy of our judicial system.
In fact, the thing at the VA hospital wouldn’t have happened, because I would have been incarcerated for the deal with getting his buddy out of jail.
I guess I just don’t know the right people…lol
Whatever it is, it is way too much! It is ridiculous what these ELECTED officials make from us taxpayers and then all they do is screw with people!
Tina is ex-wife. Lavon is current as far as I know.
Okay, I’ll go back and look again. This was the only Henshaw I saw on the database I was searching, so there might be another I’d have to look through to find Lavon. It’s our understanding that she has a job through DCFS or one of those agencies.
Where are you finding this database of what people make? And who does it include? Just state held positions?
We have the Pantagraph to thank for that:
http://www.pantagraph.com/app/database/state-salaries/
They did a lot of exhaustive legwork in 2008 and retrieved all state-salaried people in Illinois, even down to the state stipends the various courthouse offices receive. All of it is available via FOIA request.
Henshaw doesn’t receive a state salary, his is paid through the county. We haven’t retrieved state’s attorney’s salaries in a while, hence the reason why we don’t know his exact income. It probably went up here a few weeks ago when the county settled on a budget.
Nice. Thanks.
Didn’t both of these young men serve our country? Does anyone think this may have something to do with what is going on in their lives now?
Yes, and yes.
But they’re still responsible for their own actions. The time for excuses is over.
I wish some 1 would check there facts I highly doubt Harmon got Jared Coonse out of jail like you say . Did you even try to check up on this or is it like big foot it makes for a better story
Do you see the time stamp on this comment?
That time stamp might explain my impatience with you when I tell you to STFU.
In response to V and your daddy.
First V yes their mental state may have something to do with their service to this country, shortly returning home. However, they are still responsible. Not to mention Harmon was being treated for his mental illness. He had also been home forever. So how long does Harmon get to milk our tax dollars for being a loser? i.e. medical treatment, and a goverment check for post tramatic syndrome. How many times has he hid behind a uniform when he was pointing a gun at someone. Please. I have been in the this area for years. If he was really capable of being something other than a coward he wouldn’t be packing heat. He would not leave and then return with a gun. If he was really crazy he would snap on the spot, not go home then return. This is a spoiled brat that tried to pull the same bullshit on a nurse that he does with his mom and dad to get his way. He did it on federal property, the government won’t drop these charges like his parents, and ex wife did.
Second Your Daddy- if you will read what was written you will find that the jail break is alleged. Now I do not work for the disclosure however I am smart enough to know that the stories that appear on the website, are fishing expeditions for the up and coming paper. They tried to confirm and really got no where and they stated that fact in the article. Now if you have some information or another lead that may point them in the direction of what really happened then email them. No paper wants a reputation of a tabloid. If it is a a rumor, you will notice it says “alleged”, or “reported”, something like that. This mean “unconfirmed”. So it is alot like Big Foot. Those sightings are “unconfirmed” as well. There are also lots of “some 1 s” (love it) who highly doubt he exist. That is why the reports are “alleged”, and “unconfirmed”. That is why when there is a sighting or rumor, someone looks into it. If you have something that needs looking into, then say it.
Third Coonse!
Cudos to Coonse for getting away from this area. I wish him well in trying to get his life together. Everyone who screws up should work as hard as he is to put the bullshit behind them. Rock On Jared!
Wow.
We luv u, Katie. Thanks.
I don’t agree with cudos and rock on but am all for trying to do better in life and leaving bad habits behind.
So you do agree. You just don’t like the grammar I chose for the encouragement. Glad that you could read beyond the “slang” if you will. I will venture to guess there is most likely a generational gap that has put you off. How bout Right On Dude, or Thats Groovy. Whatever, as long as you get the message. He isn’t laying on the porch with dogs anymore. You know that one? You lay with dogs, your going to get fleas. Say it how you want the boy is trying to better himself.
how long did mark get cause I am sure its not long enough
He hasn’t been sentenced yet…that’s happening in April. It’s fed, so he’ll probably spend some time, but not enough.
Katie, being “home forever” does not equal being cured of PTSD. I have known people that have been being treated for this disorder for most of their life and others that have died without ever having found the peace to fix their PTSD. I confident that if you talked to any other professional that knows anything about this disorder they will tell you the same thing.
I’m in no way defending anyone in this article as I dont know either one of them in any way shape or form and personally they do sound like POS’s . Until you have walked in those shoes of an American Soldier and know what its like to return home from a war zone, dont tell me how long it should take to get over it.
You obviously missed the point. If the young man has PTSD. How many times do you let him off the hook because he served our country. I do know these two young men. Harmon threatened the very person who was helping him work through his PTSD. HELLO! You know the nurse that would not give him anymore pills. So what do you think that “Perfessional’s” opinion was? She didn’t feel sorry for him! She called the cops. Do not belittle my Partiotism. It is a great thing serving our country. We all have loved ones right now doing the same thing. Some folks never get over their disorder. I understand that. Yet, it isn’t a get out of jail free card. This is real life not Monopoly.
Whoa….I didnt miss any point Katie. I was commenting to only a little something that you wrote, not the whole freaking article. I couldnt get past the part of “He had also been home forever” written after stating he had a mental illness. That part kept ringing in my ears and I had to read the post again to make sure I read it correctly. I never implied that I gave a shit about anyone in this story and even though you insist on making more of the story clear to me, I still dont give a shit. Not one of the things you put in your last post or the one before that or the whole freaking story is going to affect my life in any way!! HELLO!! What I do care about is people like you thinking that PTSD is something you just get over…that is a fact!!
ps…I never questioned your Patriotism, I was only talking about the comment made on PTSD.
katie- NO generational gap. I am not in a rocking chair yet. I totally understand cudos and rock on. My point is why “throw a party” for behavior that he should have been displaying all along. Didn’t he have to go to the service because of bad behavior to begin with. I hope this fresh start in life works for him. Too many people go back to what they are use to. It is really sad that we make excuses time after time after time for young people’s behavior. I believe this does not help them but only prolongs the inevitable. O I truly hope this new start in life works for his sake and the sake of his family.
i only have this to add….things have gotten worse since he “served” our country, however can it really be called ptsd if he was a trouble maker before his time in the service? i feel for the family.
GCO- you are absolutely right. One can only hope. His family is who is suffering the most. It hurts as a parent when your children disapoint you in that sort of manner.
pink t- The first post lead me to believe that you could have a discusion, and articulate your opinions, in an intellegent manner. Even if other views were different than your own. However, it is clear YOU DON’T GIVE A SHIT. To funny….
Cudos to Katie, nice job articulating to everyone what you are saying. I only had to read it once though.
Okay…I have grown up with both of these guys Mark and Jerad. I have to say that these are two of the best men I have ever met in my life. I can’t explain what may go through their minds on a daily basis, but it’s so easy for everyone to judge others. I’m guilty myself of being human and judging others. They have made many mistakes in their lives and I totally understand that they need to be responsible for their actions but until we have been in someone’s shoes we need to take a step back and take another look at the situation. Mark Harmon is one of the best friends I have ever had. He never asked anything from me and always has just been there as a friend. Same way with Jerad. I do wish they had both asked for help sooner when they got back from war. I am judged for being so close with these two men but at the end of the day they are two guys that would have a strangers back if they needed help….
well i know this is an old post but im just know getting around to read it. first, his ex-wife did not drop the charges against him at all, she had several charges on different occasions and numerous orders of protection brought on him only to be dropped by his daddys best friend (our lovely states attorney at that time) . also, mark did get jared out of jail in harrisburg and that came right out of his mouth because he was so stupid to be rather proud of it and told several people including myself. mark was supposed to be treated for ptsd but was not taking the medication because he thought nothing was wrong with him but that was the only way he could get his lortabs was to accept the script for the ptsd meds too. mark is a spoiled no good little sob who is a dead beat father and son. marks family has so much money but he cannot hold down a job for more than a month to help raise his own children. I hope he stays in jail for alot longer than he probably will get for his parents,childrens, ex-wife’s and the communites sake. he is a danger to society. as far as asking for help when they got back from war,hello!!!! they were both going to the VA and being treated for their ptsd shit so this behavior is something that has been going on for a long time and finally he has done something that mommy and daddy cant buy him out of. the harmon name dont mean shit to a federal judge.
Gallatin you are right on so many accounts of this point. He can’t get out of this one. As for saying he got little Coonse out of jail. Can’t believe that one. He says shit for the shock factor. I have heard him ramble on and on in different places. Not that I wouldn’t put anything past him as far as trying.
Comment on the print version: Regarding the Coonse Shawneetown connection. A letter was submitted and printed that the Disclosure should look into Lisa Coonse establishment. 1. Lisa didn’t purchase the property she leased it. 2. The tanks were removed long ago. 3. The Scates folks that own it are a different string of Scates than the Mexican pushing ones. 4. Liquor Lic. I believe the city has an open policy to this. No set number etc…You pay the fee, file an application. You meet the terms you get one. period. I will be glad to fill you in. It is a shame that the citizens are concerned with trying to find some connection with a hard working individual to Saline County. Her nephew screwed up. Hired an attorney. Thats the end of it. With all the corrupt bullshit going on in this town, the Coonse family is the last family that should be dragged accross the coals. Didn’t see any of their names on the Who’s On The Trough list. O that is because they are blue collar hard working people. Get off Coonse. If you know her you know better. Or your jealous. Or hell dig into it. But before you just insinuate know a little of what you are talking about. The Facts please. Just the Facts.
We’d be really grateful for any help you could provide. We wondered if this wasn’t a misguided letter-writer with a bone to pick but that person had a legit letter and wanted it printed so we did. We didn’t have the first idea how to begin to check it out; now we do. So feel free to contact us and point us in the right direction; we’d be grateful and the Coonse’s probably would, too.
That comment wasn’t directed at Admin in anyway. It was directed at the letter writer. All of the above is common knowledge. Just someone stiring shit. Probably oh, any number of bus. that Lisa put a hurt on while she was open. Or someone she kicked out of the place etc…If you own a bus. your open to gossip etc…It is almost like they have started Shawneetown’s version of the Salem Witch Trials…..If you have a beef with someone just try to link them to Saline County or Raymondo……that will show em….lol
Yeah, kinda like someone was trying to do with Gillio’s last week. You gotta wonder about the pettiness factor.
Exactly! The Gills are really nice folks. You know what is really funny? Is that if you live down here, and someone digs far enough we are all related, aquainted, or ate in the same rest. at the same time, with any one of the “bad guys”. So good luck sorting the real bad guys out from the bullshit. I hate it that there are those that are trying to use this format to cloud reputations. That is what happens in a public forum.
gallatin…i love you!..you are right on..mark has always been a spoiled little brat that has gotten away with everything hes ever done and if he did get caught your right his parents bailed him out every time..i think this is just as much his parents fault as his..they r the ones whose made him the way he is..he is a freakin nutcase..5 yrs isn’t nearly long enough for all the shit he has caused around shawneetown…for god sakes he passed out at a dairy queen with one of his girls and the little 4 yr old at the time had to go tell the cashier her daddy wouldn’t wake up…what a lowlife piece of shit ..i hope he rots in prison..good riddance..he’ll end up killing someone or a building full of people when he gets out..its just a matter of time..that idiot is a ticking time bomb and 5 yrs isn’t near enought for a idiot like that..
If this is all PTSD related how in the hell do you explain all the shit he did BEFORE he was ever in the military? He was crazy as hell before and being in the military probably just increased his insanity.He was pretty scary as a child. He needed help then! His parents should have let him reap what he sowed and maybe he would have learned a lesson or two. Bailing his sorry ass out every time he gets into trouble doesn’t teach a kid a damn thing and that makes for a pretty sorry excuse for an adult. Some of these comments sure sugar coat his situation, but given all the shit he’s put his family through and all the fear he has put in his community, he deserves a little more than the minimum.
I’m laughing at the thought of blaming it on “PTSD”. Come on, now. We’re smarter than that. War is traumatic, but neither of these boys were in Nam. Let’s not give them the pleasure of using that as an excuse. I know SEVERAL men who have served and are currently serving, and some who are over-seas right now; but they’re not going to come home and shoot up a VA or someone’s house. And they’re damn sure not going to hold their parents hostage. Gimme a break! haha! That’s not PTSD; that’s INSANITY.
This is ridiculous. i know mark personally and hes not a bad person. the night after him and jillin went to dairy queen he came to my house. mark wasnt messed up and he was pretty upset about it. and jerred coonse not jared..hes not a bad person at all. he actually a very nice person that would do anything for anyone. so all of you people can shove your usless lies and comments up your ass.
Naw, he’s not a bad guy…he just likes to call up federally-run VA facilities, get a nurse on the phone, tell her she’d better get those rent-a-cops ready because he’s got a Glock and ammo and he’s gonna fill that place with lead, then show up on the grounds WITH said Glock and ammo. This a few years after he holds his own parents hostage…oh, AND beats the shit out of his wife.
Naw. Not a bad guy at all. Pretty calm, laid back and every-dayish if you ask me.
anyone heard what his sentence is?
It’s not up yet; we’ll post it when it is.
maddison you must be just as ignorant as he is if you think he is a good guy…well all i gotta say is shawneetown better lock their doors now cuz the idiot only got rehab out of this whole thing…just as his dad was goin and spreadin around…wonder how much he paid for that…he gets weekend passes to come home and get messed up just to go back mon thru fri …and say hes getting treatment…this is crazy..this guy is a tickin timebomb waiting to kill someone ..there is no treatment to cure what mark harmon has…and maddison there is no other reason for harmon to fall asleep at dairy queen with his little girl other than what was the truth..that dude always had so many drugs in his system..unless you can put yourself in that scared little girls situation and be scared to death cuz your dad fell asleep and you were all alone then you can shove all your bullshit up your ass…just pisses me off when people think this bastard is a good guy…he probably came to your house to get more drugs…when he shouldve been in jail..for putting that little girl in danger…his parents can pay to get him outta all this trouble but they cant pay child support for these little girls…makes good sense…i hope hes not allowed visitation with the girls because he is a threat to society and to his family…if he will do to his parents what he has done..he would do it to his children…they are much better without his stupid ass…no children should have to go through what those kids have with that idiot..he was off to kill 40 somethin people for no reason other than he is a psycho…but hey hes not a bad guy…so to end my rampage…i just hope the next thing he does to get in trouble doesnt involve the death of anyone..as it has came so close to being…its just a matter of time with this idiot..watch n see..we will hear about him again…he cant help himself…im just sayin..
ok,i know this is a little late, but for whoever maddison is on here, please leave my childs name out of this. This is his ex-wife and I dont ever want to see anyone posting stuff about my children on here. To them, their father is dead. he will be damn lucky if he gets SUPERVISED visits a few yrs down the road. I would not give him the satisfaction of calling him a father. A real father would never do what he has done to my children. their hearts have been broken by all of this. And just so all of you know, he did get dressed up in army uniform and get jerrad out of saline county, he told me all the details how he did it and i saw jerrad when they got back to shawneetown right after he did it. so yes, its true. Im glad some of you see the true colors of mr,harmon and those of you who think hes a good guy, well, you dont see what happens behind closed doors. Anyways, I dont ever want to see my childs name posted on this again.